RE: CERVICAL SPINE

[Deborah]

I HAVE NUMNBESS AND TINGLING IN MY FACE FOR 3 MONTHS DOCTORS BAFFLED THEN I STARTED TO GET LIGHTHEADED UN ABLE TO TURN MY NECK THEY DID MRI OF BRAIN (NORMAL)ALL DOCTORS TOLD ME IT WAS ANXIETY. fINALLY TALKED THEM IN TO MRI OF NECK AND FINALLY SOMETHING COMES UP IN THE C6-7 A MIDLINE LEFT PARACENTRAL DISC HERNIATION EFFACINGALMOST ALL OF THE SUBRACACHNOID SPACE ANTERIOR TO THE CERVICAL CORD, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THIS MEANS? I HAVE APPOINTMENT TO SEE NEURO-SURGEON. aNY input?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Deborah:

Sorry to hear about your face tingling/numbness.  From you description I do not think that the C5/C6 is the problem.  First, there is no compromise of the cord, just the space surrounding the cord.  Second, C6/C7 is mostly the arm region. Paresthesias of the face can be due to alot of things, but not knowing what they have done limits my help.  Mostly, we thing about viral infections, systemic infections, systemic diseases such as Bechet's or scacoid, etc.  

I would also get a good reading of the MRI of the C-spine to see what someone else sees.  Sorry about your problem, I wish I could tell you more.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Albert Tausendfreundt]

Deborah:

I injured myself back in 1981. The Dr's thru test found C5-C6, C6-C7 disc herniation, with a spur at C6-C7 area. One of my symtoms is lightheaded spells. I have been to numerous Dr's and I'm told in plain words that it's all in my head. I've been told that it's anxiety, panic attacks etc.

From experience, don't get too disappointed at the Dr's, because I don't think that the Dr's know what causes the lightheaded spells.

Please keep me informed as to what your neuro-surgeon suggest.

[Al T]

Dear Deborah:

I injured myself back in 1981. Right after I injured myself I started experiencing lightheaded spells, pain across my shoulder area, in plain words I thought that I was having a heart attack, which proved to be negative. I have had numerous tests, seen numerous Dr's. in all fields, and they discovered that I had herniated disc at C5-C6 & C6-C7, also at C6-C7 I have a spur. The problem is that when I tell the Dr's. about the lightheaded spells, I'm told that it's psychological. And yes , I'm still having, basically, the same problems today as I did back in 1981.

When you go to your Dr. I hope that you don't become too disappointed with the outcome.
Maybe you have better Dr's. where you're at, I sure hope so for your sake.

When I read your posted question on the internet, I don't know how I found the site, but I thought that I was the only one in this world suffering from lightheaded spells.

Please keep me informed as to what your Dr. recommends. Believe me it's not anxiety.  

Thanks in advance.

[Linda]

i had a spinal fusion at c6-c7 last year. although i regained most of the feeling in my left arm i still have residual problems in my right. i have terrible pain across my shoulder and at the base of my neck, and for the past 3 months i have been experiencing tingling and numbness in my lips, teeth and tongue - i will be curious to see what the doctor thinks your problem is as i have been trying to ask this question on this forum for months now - hopefully the doctor's answer for you will enlighten me as to what is going on with me - good luck!

[Judy - Follow-up question]

Can you please provide a definition or alternate name for Bechet's and Scacoid. I performed a search, but there is no reference found.

Thanks in advance.
Judy

[D.Graves]

The spelling is actually: Behcet's Disease.

Here is a link:


http://www.askjeeves.com/main/metaanswer.asp?metaEngine=directhit&origin=0&MetaURL=http%3A%2F%2Fask%2Edirecthit%2Ecom%2Ffcgi%2Dbin%2FRedirURL%2Efcg%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ew2%2Ecom%2Fbehcets%2Ehtml%26qry%3Dbechet%2527s%2Bdisease%26rnk%3D3%26src%3DDH%5FAsk%5FSRCH&qCategory=hlth&metaTopic=Behcet%27s+Association&ItemOrdinal=2&logQID=A74BBEB791A6D4118AA4009027735367&sv=210

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Sorry for my spelling, my fingers sometimes get dyslexia when I am tired.  The spelling is Behcet's and Sarcoidosis (sarcoid).

CCF Neuro MD

[Deborah A.]

I was glad to see your post as well as the responses.  I too have periodic numbness and tingling to right side of face and mouth.  I also have a focal central disc protrusion at c4-c5 that indents the anterior aspect of the cord.  I also have moderate sized anterior spurs projecting into the left c6 and c7 neural foramina and very large spurs projecting into the anterior aspect of the right neural foramen.   Had MRI of head which showed possible MS but CSF was negative.  From these posts there apparently is a connection between face numbness and structual neck problems even though Drs. may not exactly know what it is. I was told the symptom was unrelated and in"my head", anxiety, nerves, etc.  This reporting of an unrelated symptom threw my care off track for awhile until x-rays and MRIs were done, now I won't mention it anymore out of fear of not being taken seriously.  I am glad to know I'm not alone.  Good luck.

[Linda Davis]

I have been also suffering from dizziness, lightheadiness, vertigo etc..  I have a herniated disc at c5-c6 which indents the anterolateral aspect of the cord.  I also have facial movement on the right side but no numbness.  My neck goes into spasm all the time.  I have heard everything from I have inner ear problems (which have been checked) to nerve damage.  One ortho told me the disc isn't doing anything.  It's very frustrating because I don't think they really know.  Nobody wants to do surgery unless you can't function.  I have had to give up everything.  I can function but the quality isn't even close to where I used to be.  It's very important to take care of your body.  Eat right, maintain a good weight, exercise and reduce stress.  Not every case is textbook.  I am trying to decide if surgery is the answer for me - it may be because I've tried everything else.  Good Luck.

[Donna]

I was really interested in this discussion, as I have similar problems.  I had a C5-C6 and C6-C7 fusion in 1996.  A year ago I experienced symptoms again, and now I have a bulging of the disc above the fusion, C4-C6, ostephytes, and my neck is angled improperly.  I am experiencing numbness in my left hand, arm, shoulder and now it is going up into my neck and lower left jaw.  I have an incredible amount of neck stiffness, pain and irritation to which Arthrotec helps, to some degree. My doctor told me it was cervical radiculopathy all related to my neck problems.  These problems are really a big "pain in the neck".

[dee levari]

i had 3 levels C5-6-7-\diskectomy fusion and titanium plating 5-24-2000

10-23-00  removal of broken titanium plate .  any answers on that complication?? did what i ws suppose to do now back to square one.

[dee levari]

i had 3 levels C5-6-7-\diskectomy fusion and titanium plating 5-24-2000

10-23-00  removal of broken titanium plate .  any answers on that complication?? did what i ws suppose to do now back to square one.